Quick Hit July 2026: What We Missed in Recent Weeks

As regular Newsweed consumers will have noticed, we've been on hiatus for the past few weeks. But since news doesn't wait for us, here's a recap of what's been happening in the meantime on Planet Cannabis.

Europe

The Legalization of Cannabis in Germany (CanG) did not result in an increase in consumption among young people, according to a new peer-reviewed study that adds to the body of research to an increasing amount of data contradicting the negative effects predicted by the reform's critics.

In Germany In addition, patient advocacy groups are trying to cancel the loss of health insurance coverage medical cannabis flowers. Effective as of July 30, with no transitional provisions—not even for patients whose treatment has already been approved and is currently underway—the measure simply removes dried flowers from the scope of special reimbursement.

Subsequently, another provision was added to this already controversial cost-saving bill, requiring that any new prescription for extracts, dronabinol, or nabilone be preceded by a mandatory six-month trial period of an approved cannabis-based finished drug (generally Epidiolex or Sativex).

In Austria, Helena D., a patient A woman with multiple sclerosis is suing the government to secure the right to grow her own cannabis on the grounds of «medical necessity.» A nearly identical case in Germany was successful in 2016 before the Federal Administrative Court and paved the way for the 2017 Medical Cannabis Act. Helena’s team hopes that the Austrian courts will follow suit.

The ban on CBD in Italy continues to run into roadblocks. After to have been criticized from all sides, the Italian Court of Cassation ruled that prosecutors cannot automatically confiscate hemp flowers under the ban currently in effect in the country without proving that these products are likely to produce a psychoactive effect.

United States

Hearings of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) dedicated to the reclassification of cannabis came to a close on Wednesday, July 15, marking the end of 17 days of proceedings. Now, the various parties involved must submit their proposed conclusions as well as their post-hearing briefs. Derek Julius, the chief administrative judge, will then issue his recommendations, against which the parties will have 20 days to file appeals.

The complete file will then be forwarded to the DEA administrator, who will make the final decision regarding the reclassification. This decision may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The battle against the ban on products containing cannabinoids derived from hemp is more intense than ever in the United States. Lawmakers have filed a bipartisan bill aimed at allowing the continued sale of certain hemp-derived THC products, thereby partially relaxing the general ban which is scheduled to take effect later this year.

The new «Lawful Hemp Protection Act,» introduced Wednesday by Representatives Andy Barr and Angie Craig, would once again amend the definition of what constitutes a legally derived hemp product at the federal level, add labeling requirements, and impose new sales taxes.

Under the new bill, legal hemp would not include cannabinoids that cannot be produced naturally by a cannabis plant or that are «produced, manufactured, or processed through chemical synthesis, hydrogenation, acetylation, alkylation, or any other artificial process that adds to, removes, or alters in any way the molecular structure of a cannabinoid, such that it contains one or more functional groups or substituents that are not present in any natural cannabinoid constituent» of cannabis.

The legislation specifically designates hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), tetrahydrocannabinol acetate (THC-O-acetate), and tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP) as prohibited, and further specifies that any other «artificially modified analogue or homologue of a natural cannabinoid» may be prohibited if identified by the Secretary of Agriculture in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Also prohibited would be any cannabinoids produced, manufactured, or processed using a solvent, an extraction method, or any other means of production deemed by the Secretaries of Health and Agriculture to «pose a risk to public health.».

A major alcohol industry lobby group, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), supports this bill but would like to see the tax rate be the subject of more in-depth «discussions.».

A U.S. Senate committee It has also included a provision in a draft budget bill that would postpone the ban by at least one month, to December 11 instead of November 12.

The Lollapalooza festival, held in late July in Chicago, authorized—perhaps for the first and last time—the on-site sale of THC-infused beverages, specifically 33 cL cans of «Señorita» margaritas from the Rythm brand, each containing 5 milligrams of THC.

Cannabis Use Among Adolescents fell of more than 60% in Minnesota following the legalization of cannabis. It fell from 12.7 in 2013 to 5% in 2025, with declines observed across all demographic groups studied, despite the state’s adoption of cannabis legalization for medical and recreational use by adults.

A new study reveals that cannabis use surpassed cigarette use in the United States last year, and that daily cannabis use surpassed that of alcohol.

High Times published an long-form on «How Washington Ended the Cannabis Boom in Colombia and Inadvertently Created the Cocaine Cartels.» An interesting look at the unintended consequences of prohibition.

Kentucky, one of the last U.S. states to remain closed off to cannabis, consider a law authorizing medical cannabis as part of end-of-life care. Louisiana, which is just as conservative, has recently done the same.

Canada

Canadian cannabis giant SNDL claims to be the largest company in the industry following its acquisition of Parallel. The company now boasts a network of 249 retail locations, «the largest in the world by number of stores,» said its CEO, Zach George, in a press release. While it is likely the largest by that measure, it is not necessarily the largest in terms of revenue, market capitalization, or international presence.

Rest of the world

Eswatini, which has has already ventured into medical cannabis, has decided to evaluate industrial hemp as a commercial crop: the Ministry of Agriculture has given the green light to conduct research trials on four hectares, intended to determine whether this small country in southern Africa is capable of developing a viable hemp industry.

In Namibia, an attempt to legalize the possession and use of cannabis failed in the High Court of Windhoek. Since the Namibian government is currently considering possible reforms on the same issue, the Court ruled that it was premature to rule on this appeal regarding the ban on «dagga» in the country.

South Korea has decided to allocate $21 million to research on minor cannabinoids for use in medical hemp products.

Search

A flavonoid derived from cannabis slowed down up to 99% in the growth of cancer cells during laboratory tests.

A study Partially funded by the National Football League (NFL) Joint Pain Management Committee and the NFL Players Association in the United States, the study sought to examine cannabis use among athletes. Five major themes emerged:

• Athletes use cannabis
• They receive little reliable information
• They fear being judged or punished
• They are wary of some of the medical staff
• They must navigate conflicting laws, regulations, and institutional responses.

Participants described uses related to pain management, relaxation, sleep, recovery, mental health, and supposed neuroprotective benefits. Some also said they preferred it to alcohol in social situations.